Browning the Green Space’s Post

More great stuff from beautiful Transylvania! The good folks here, including Destini N. Petitt, PhD, Eric Stein, Prof. Robert Agnew, Joellen Risacher, and Connie Chase are putting finishing touches on the new Brevard-Transylvania #Sustainability Council! It's been a wild story -- in June 2023, I published a letter in the Transylvania Times (link: https://lnkd.in/emS92ere) explaining how diminishing energy-return on investment (EROI) for oil and gas over the next 10-20 years will make it uneconomical to produce, much less consume, explaining why building out alternative energy sources is essential. The letter caught the eye of Bill Marshall, an Asheville-based organizer with Citizens' Climate Lobby, who showed up unannounced at my door two weeks later, asking me to get involved. In the months that followed, and with discussions with Bill and Stephanie Rausch, we realized the City of Brevard could benefit from a Climate Action Plan (CAP) to enable our fair town to access federal grant funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to help with reducing emissions through electrification of city assets and other solutions to help citizens adapt their homes and properties. We put gears in motion, including passing a letter of support for a CAP through the Planning Board, highlighting alignment with the sustainaiblity goals in our 2030 Comp Plan passed in 2022. But the City Council and staff did not identify creation of a new plan as a priority this year, so we pivoted and are now working to build a grassroots community group. We are building our social media presence (will post to comments here when live), will soon plan public events with speakers, build bridges with partners at local aligned groups and schools, and carry forward the torch of localized #ClimateAction! Go Science! #SDG11 The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University University of North Carolina Asheville Brevard College Conserving Carolina Sustainable Development Solutions Network Southeast Sustainability Directors Network ICLEI Solemi Hernandez

Public-private collaboration was on everyone's lips at Climate Work NYC. We need to work together effectively if we're going to create and scale change at pace in order to achieve an orderly green transition. *Why* and to some extent *what* seem to be pretty clear in most minds. *How*...? Not so much. There are examples of excellent practice, but they're relatively thin on the ground, and difficult to replicate. We've got work to do. Earlier in the year BRAE started working with the Policy, Advocacy and Member Mobilisation team at WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development to explore the *how*. Using a research-driven, iterative design process, we've been exploring whether it's possible to create something that plugs the gap, bringing diverse stakeholders together to align behind common problems and create the conditions to rapidly implement fit-for-purpose solutions. This is the first in a series of blogs co-written by Jennie Dodson and Lewis Hill (WBCSD), Lewis Howard, James MacPherson, PhD and me (BRAE). Here we unpack the challenge and point towards some global examples that are driving aligned innovation and investment. Over the coming weeks, we'll be sharing more of our insights, exploring the opportunity to codify new ways of organizing that support delivery of the next era of public-private co-creation. https://lnkd.in/euYnkCsz

🚨 Building Decarbonization Baddie of the Week Alert 🚨 If you're new here, WEDNESDAYS are for the baddies (influential leaders taking the industry by storm). This week is all about McKenna Dunbar, Building Electrification Lead at Sierra Club. McKenna specializes in electrification, environmental justice, clean energy advocacy and energy efficiency. McKenna Dunbar (pronouns: they/them, not she/her) is renowned for their unwavering commitment to environmental justice and equitable energy transitions. As a key figure and social entrepreneur in the social impact sector, Dunbar spearheads initiatives dedicated to reducing fossil fuel dependence and advancing the electric sector by championing building electrification. Dunbar's leadership prioritizes frontline and rural communities, skillfully navigating the complex interplay between environmental justice, green workforce development, and net-zero building policy initiatives. Their impactful work has garnered numerous prestigious accolades and recognition in the academic and professional realm from entities like The Aspen Institute, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), People's Climate Innovation Center, The White House, @Commission for Environmental Cooperation, The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Citizens' Climate Lobby, LinkedIn, @Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, and Udall Foundation, amongst others. As an expert panelist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention control, an SME reviewer for several offices at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Innovation Fellow a LookUp and Exposure Labs, collaborator at the Climate Mental Health Network and Board Member at Slipstream, Virginia Energy Efficiency Council, Navigating Grey, and @Sustainable Development Fund, Dunbar stands as a distinguished and influential force in the clean energy realm, shaping a more just and sustainable future for all. You can catch them in action at @Climate Week NYC and other upcoming industry events. Given them a like and follow for punny energy jokes and to stay up to date on the latest industry trends #buildingdecarbonizationbaddieoftheweek #environmentaljustice #cleanenergy #advocacy #buildingelectrification #energyefficiency #ifyoudontknownowyouknow

A great start to Climate Week! Governor Kathy Hochul announced New York’s participation in the U.S. Climate Alliance’s Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative to grow career pathways in climate and clean energy fields, strengthen workforce diversity, and jointly train 1 million new registered apprentices across the Alliance’s states and territories by 2035. Governor Hochul and the bipartisan coalition of 23 governors, representing approximately 60% of the U.S. economy and 55% of the U.S. population, will partner to strengthen and expand pathways into a wide variety of climate-ready professions that are critical to building a clean, equitable, and resilient net-zero future. https://lnkd.in/ef7ZgBf5 #ClimateWeekNYC

Greenbelt Alliance, REAP Climate Center, and Pacific Coast Community Services (PCCS) are excited to announce that we have been awarded a grant through the Bay Area Jobs First Collaborative’s Catalyst program, made possible by California Jobs First. Our project the Regenerative Jobs Program will provide under-represented groups with access to environmental education and workforce training, with a focus on nature-based solutions and environmental issues. We’re thrilled to receive funding that is in line with Catalyst’s goal of supporting initiatives that will help build long-lasting regional economic development infrastructure in the Bay Area. To learn more about the Catalyst program and the Bay Area Jobs First Collaborative, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gjhdsXQG.

Join SBN Detroit on February 4 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM ET for a virtual discussion about the new partnership between Wayne State University and the University of Windsor, recognized as a United Nations Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development. This collaboration uses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to address shared challenges in the Detroit-Windsor region. Topics include climate change, health and economic disparities, and water as a critical shared resource. The event will feature Dr. Donna Kashian director of UN-RCE Detroit, and Dr. Anneke Smit, director of UN-RCE Windsor, as they bring their expertise to the table. The conversation will be moderated by Terry Barclay (she/her/hers), chair of SBND and CEO of Inforum, who will guide this important cross-border dialogue on sustainability and collaboration. 📩 Register to attend: https://bit.ly/40gr9Tr #sbndetroit #sustainablebusinessnetwork #detroitwindsor #unitednations #sustainability #sdgs #climateaction #waterresources #crossbordercollaboration #detroitbusiness #educationforsustainability #communityimpact #environmentalhealth #sustainablecities #urbanplanning #collaborativeleadership #waynestate #windsorlaw #greendevelopment #transnationalpartnerships #sustainablefuture

"9th Civil Society Forum for Sustainability: Shaping the European Green Deal", Brussel from 4-6 November 2024 We’re glad to have been part of the 9th Civil Society Forum for Sustainability: Shaping the European Green Deal, under the RealDeal Project 🌿✊ During this two-day forum, civil society organizations came together to tackle one of today’s most pressing challenges: shaping the future of the European Green Deal to drive systemic change for people and the planet 🌍 Following the forum, over the next two days, CRLDS’s Executive Director, Mrs. Luiza Hoxhaj, actively contributed to thematic workshops on key topics like: “De-colonization of De-carbonization,” “A Wellbeing Economy: From Ideas into Transformative Actions,” and “The Future of Deliberative Democracy and Public Participation under the New Commission” ✊🌎 Key takeaways from panels and workshops: 🤝 Social Justice + Sustainability: Climate action must address social inequality. 🌳 Climate & Social Protection: Tackling climate impacts requires strengthened social protection systems. ✊🏾 Global Solidarity: We need to expand social protection globally to ensure no one is left behind. The call is clear: it’s time to mobilize CSO voices for action in our countries and across Europe!

Why present in front of our Community Leadership Panel on Climate Change and Just Transition? If you're developing significant projects, policies and strategies which have climate, nature and community implications in Bristol and beyond, the panel can act as a constructive sounding board and insightful critical friend for those Here are some of the benefits of engaging with the panel: 🟢 Improving new projects or policies by ensuring they are shaped and informed by a broad range of perspectives and lived experiences. 🟢 Help apply a just transition lens to new projects or policies, supporting Bristol City Council’s Just Transition Declaration. 🟢 Constructively support, inform and broaden existing or planned stakeholder engagement. 🟢 Help mitigate unintended citizen resistance by providing diverse community insights at an early stage in the process. 🟢 Support specific organisational aims around corporate social responsibility, social value, and environmental, social and governance. Send us your EOI by 21 October ahead of the next panel on 27 November. https://buff.ly/4gJ0PsN

🌍 The Importance of Making Evidence-Based Decisions: Join CSCEN's January Events Series! Calling all civil servants passionate about climate and environmental policy! Start 2025 with four unmissable events exploring evidence-based decision-making. 📊 Your January line-up: • 21 Jan, 13:00: Careers Shaping Evidence-Based Solutions  Join David Wood, Head of Government Geography Profession, sharing insights from 20+ years of leading multi-disciplinary evidence teams across government. • 23 Jan, 13:00: The Power of Evidence  Virtual session featuring Prof Robert Watson (former IPCC Chair) and Prof Emily Shuckburgh (Cambridge Zero) on using scientific analysis to inform climate policy. • 30 Jan, 11:00: Evidence-Based Policy & Wellbeing  Discover how research shapes policy with experts from ONS and Natural England exploring the connection between nature access and wellbeing. Plus: Don't miss our Offshoots special featuring Prof Jim Skea (IPCC Chair), Dr Fredi Otto (Grantham Institute) and Dr Sam Barrett (IIED) discussing climate evidence and adaptation. 🌱 New to CSCEN? We're a growing community of civil servants working to address the climate and environmental challenges facing the UK. Join us to connect with like-minded colleagues and access exclusive events. 👉 Ready to get involved? Sign up for our January events [link in comments] Join the network [link in comments] Follow us for the latest updates #CivilService #ClimateAction #Environment #UKGov #Evidence #Policy

Constantly inspired by the work B Lab U.S. & Canada is doing on Equity, Climate, and Co-Operative / Worker Owned business models. They're doing the own work, and walking the walk — teaching, training, leading. 🙌 #equity #racialequity #cooperatives #climatejustice #bcorps #blab https://lnkd.in/eDAiDjME